Job Duties / Qualifications, Skills and Abilities(QSA)
Job Duties Job Duties General Accountability
The program head provides academic and first-point-of contact leadership for students, faculty and staff in their assigned program. The program head works closely with the academic chair and program faculty, staff, and administration on a daily basis to assist students to achieve success through quality education and training delivery.
Nature & Scope
The program head reports to the Academic Chair, Simulation Centres. It may be necessary for the program head to travel for program and administrative responsibilities including participation in inter-site committees. The School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences provides degree, diploma and certificate programs in a range of areas. The schools also offer general, introductory and specialized courses in a variety of disciplines through varied delivery methods.
The primary role is to provide a link between the program faculty, staff and students to the academic chair with the purpose to maintain effective communication and support. This will include coordinating between the program and external stakeholders such as industry, accrediting agencies, other educational institutions and business sectors or government as they relate to programming needs. The program head will assist in developing and monitoring the program’s financial resources and recommending efficiencies as required.
The program head oversees simulation development and works closely with programs to ensure curriculum alignment.
The program head will participate in staff recruitment / selection, orientation, and coaching and mentoring staff for their program areas. Of particular focus will be supporting teaching staff to model excellence using Saskatchewan Polytechnic Instructor Competencies. The program head in collaboration with the Academic Chair, will facilitate assessment of faculty. QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE Specific Accountabilities 1. Academic Leadership and Administration
- Monitor delivery of quality programming responsive to the needs of students, business / industry and the public.
- Support academic activity for the program areas including participating in annual and comprehensive program reviews, program renewal, curriculum development and delivery, instructional methods and academic standards, ensuring commonality of program standards and outcomes.
- Support clear and consistent student-centered program operations with a focus on excellence in service, safety and program delivery.
- Monitor the quality of academic activities in simulations centres and implement sound academic policies and procedures including preparing reports for and participating in Program Advisory Committees or meetings with professional associations.
- Coordinate program accreditation and involve relevant internal and external stakeholder groups.
- Recommend appropriate opportunities for applied research projects or other learning and research opportunities.
- Facilitate and support quality assurance for extension and brokered programs.
- Represent the program on committees as assigned.
- Monitor quality in programs and alignment to Saskatchewan Polytechnic policies, procedures and standards.
- Create an inclusive and supportive environment for all learners, faculty and staff. This will include strategies and programs to support indigenous student success and achievement, international and newcomer to Canada programs, disability and learner success models and other like programs or supports.
2. Student Affairs
Collaborate on student recruitment strategies and implement initiatives that promote academic programs and services to potential students.Foster a positive student experience through the student life cycle.Manage the daily operations of program activities related to student matters.Collaborate with faculty to identify and refer students to appropriate supports as needed.Mediate and advise on issues between students and faculty as necessary.3. Program Leadership
Promote teamwork and effective communication while supporting staff and faculty to reflect and model the values of Saskatchewan Polytechnic.Foster an organizational environment that encourages personal productivity, job satisfaction and the professional growth of faculty and employees in the program areas.Conduct faculty assessments.Ensure a culture of safety and security.Participate and support the employee life cycle (such as but not limited to recruitment, selection, orientation, reviews)Responsible for workload assignment and scheduling for program faculty and staff.Act as first point of contact for managing day to day operations.Identify and communicate people management issues to the academic chair as necessary.Cultivate an inclusive work and learning environment.4. Relationship Management
Internal
Represent the program / school on internal committees and teams as assigned by the academic chair.Build and maintain relationships across both academic and administrative divisions, and with our students.External
Develop and maintain relationships with external agencies, educational and government organizations, colleges and universities.Represent the program / school and Saskatchewan Polytechnic at relevant business, industry, community and sector functions as required.5. Resource Allocation
Manage program resources on a day-to-day basis to ensure program delivery effectiveness.Contribute to the budget development process and final budget requests.Monitor expenditures for day-to-day supplies and equipment spending and ensure expenditures remain within the budget assigned to the program. Where required, escalate in accordance with management authorities grid requirements.Implement and coordinate innovative solutions to resource challenges.Bring forward opportunities for external partnerships.Identify requirements for program development resource project needs and / or fund requests.6. Strategic Planning
Contribute program perspective to strategic planning and implement program changes in alignment with strategic initiatives.Identify program priorities and initiatives and implement at the program level.Identify future trends / program development opportunities, which may include engagement with external or internal stakeholders. Duties Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities (QSA) Candidates will be considered in accordance with the minimum education requirements to support the programs supervised. For this position, a degree in nursing and eligibility for registration (active status) with the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) is required. A minimum of two years recent and relevant experience as a Registered Nurse is required and experience in educational management / operational leadership and instructional experience in a post-secondary institution is preferred. Desired QSA Required Competencies Leads Transformation :Anticipates emerging trends and creates opportunities that shape and transform the organization and polytechnic sector in Canada.
Inspires Courage & Innovation :
Models and enables creative thinking, curiosity, and calculated risk taking to create new solutions.
Cultivates Strong Relationships :
Builds strong and trusting relationships and brings a stakeholder and learner-centric mindset and focus to all elements of the organization.
Drives Operational Excellence :
Leverages business insight, financial acumen, and operational rigor to maximize productivity and build long-term, sustainable success.
Builds Leadership & Culture :
Brings authenticity, emotional intelligence, and accountability to develop leadership effectiveness in individuals, teams, and our culture.